CLEVELAND, Ohio — Talking to myself about the Cavs & the NBA Finals:
QUESTION: Didn’t you think the Cavs would be playing in June?
ANSWER: No.
Q: No?
A: I thought they’d reach the Eastern Conference finals and lose to Boston.
Q: Well, you thought wrong. Boston lost in the second round, just like Cleveland.
A: Indiana and Oklahoma City are in the NBA Finals. I want to find the “expert” who predicted that would happen.
Q: What does that tell you, at least when it comes to the Cavs?
A: It shows the NBA is set up so you don’t have to be in a major market to win big. It has a real salary cap. It’s complicated, but with the new “second apron,” major penalties for teams who overspend also will help the middle and smaller market franchises compete for a title.
Q: Meaning what?
A: If this were baseball, Donovan Mitchell never would have signed a contract extension with Utah or Cleveland. But the NBA has a “maximum salary” cap, which limits contracts to no more than five years and certain dollar amounts. Even in the crazy world of pro sports, they are expensive. But they aren’t long. One way to fix MLB would be to have a maximum contract system like the NBA. That would end those insane 10-to-13-year contracts given out by major market MLB teams.
Q: That’s why Indiana and OKC are in the Finals?
A: They are well-run franchises. They draft well, trade smart and have good coaches. But when you look at the media size, Indiana is No. 25 (Indianapolis) and OKC is 47th.
Q: Where is Cleveland?
A: Our market is considered Cleveland/Akron/Canton and it’s ranked 19th. It’s the smallest market with teams in the NFL, NBA and MLB.
Q: So you’re saying Cleveland has a chance, even without LeBron James?
A: For any NBA title … yes! The NBA has switched from the days when LeBron James led three different teams (Cleveland, the Lakers and Miami) to the NBA Finals. He has done it … get this … 10 different times within a 14-year span (2007-2020). Golden State went to the Finals from 2015-19 (winning four titles) and then won another title in 2022.
Q: Dynasties?
A: No more. For the sixth consecutive season, the NBA doesn’t have teams reaching the NBA Finals in back-to-back seasons. Counting 2025, there have been 10 different teams in the Finals over the last six years.
Q: So Cleveland has a chance?
A: Indiana has not been in the NBA Finals since 2000. OKC was last in the Finals in 2012. Neither won a title. The Pacers were ABA champions in 1970, 1972 and 1973. I wrote a book on the ABA (Loose Balls) and I’d have loved to see those great Indiana teams play in the NBA. The OKC franchise started in Seattle. Former Cavs coach Lenny Wilkens won the 1979 title with the SuperSonics.
Q: Nice history lesson, but what does that have to do with today?
A: Indiana has worked its way up. Rick Carlisle was hired as coach four years ago. His records: 25-57, 35-47, 47-35 and 50-32. They missed the playoffs in his first two seasons. They lost in the 2024 Eastern Conference finals and then made the 2025 Finals.
Q: What about OKC?
A: In the last five years, the Thunder’s records are 22-50, 24-58, 40-42, 57-25 and 68-14. They missed the playoffs in the first three seasons, and lost in the second round last year. Now they are in the Finals.
Q: How does this relate to Cleveland?
A: When there are 10 different teams making the playoffs in the last year with only Boston and Miami as repeaters, it should give hope to the Cavs and their fans. The team has to make some adjustments. But their 64-18 record and their roster with all the key players between the ages of 28 and 29 shows they can contend next year.
Q: Great … wait for next year. That’s the best you can do?
A: These facts and the makeup of the Cavs’ roster is why people don’t need to be fired. The roster doesn’t need a massive reconstruction. I’ve written before that I’d consider trading Darius Garland, but it’s not a necessity. The NBA landscape has changed. Probably more teams have a chance to reach the Finals than ever before and the Cavs could be one of them in the near future.